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Message for Pak: Abhinandan flies MiG-21 on Air Force Day

IAF Day-Abhinandan
Abhinandan flies MiG-21 to mark IAF Day

Hindon (UP): In a message to Pakistan, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter plane in February, and heroes of the Balakot operation today participated in a fly past on the occasion of Air Force Day here.

Abhinandan
Abhinandan, who had shot down Pak F-16, flew MiG 21 to mark IAF Day

Abhinandan, flying a MiG-21 Bison, led a group of three fighter planes in an ‘avenger’ formation on the 87th Foundation Day of the IAF.

The significance was highlighted as it was a MiG-21 Bison, which he was flying during the aerial dogfight with Pakistani fighters on February 27.

He shot down an F-16 fighter before his own jet was hit when it crossed the border while chasing the Pakistani fighters. He was taken captive by the Pakistani forces, to be released two days later.

Huge cheers greeted his aerial manoeuvres today in the presence of IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria.

The fly past also saw manoeuvres by Mirage 2000 fighter planes, flown by the pilots who bombed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)  terror camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, on February 26 in retaliation to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama district of Kashmir.

It was the first time since the 1971 war that IAF fighters crossed the border to carry out hits deep inside Pakistan.

The air show also saw a fly past by recently-inducted Apache attack choppers, the most advanced combat chopper in the world, and three heavy-lift Chinook helicopters.

India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas also performed spectacular manoeuvres during the air show.

The 51 Squadron of the IAF, also known as the Sword Arms, to which Abhinandan belongs, was presented with a citation by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. Its Commanding Officer Group Captain Satish Pawar was presented with the citation.

The air chief also presented a citation to IAF’s 9 Squadron, also known as Wolf Packs, which comprises the Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft. It was presented to the Wolf Packs Commanding Officer Group Captain HJ Sequeira.

A citation was also presented to the 601Signal Unit of the IAF that had identified the package of 30 aircraft that had been released by Pakistan into Indian territory on February 27. It was presented to its Commanding Officer Group Captain Abhijit Nene.

 In his address at the event, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said the IAF will help Indian firms in playing a major role in its fleet sustenance.

He said the force is committed to building strategic autonomy through indigenous design and manufacturing under the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative of the government.

Earlier, last week, he had asserted that there will be no imports whatsoever in the foreseeable future to replace the ageing aircrafts or increasing the fleet strength.

The IAF is short of at least 10-12 squadrons of fighter jets and the existing Bison and non-Bison versions of the MiG-21 planes are also set to be decommissioned very soon.

“The development of the indigenous fifth generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has been launched,” the Air Chief said.

The manufacture of the AMCA by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is being given priority by the government to make up for the depleting strength of the IAF.

“I am also happy to say that in the air force the nodal technology centres at the base depots have successfully completed 40 indigenous projects over the past one year with the help of industry, R&D centres and the academia. Another 122 projects are in the pipeline,” he added.

 

 

Holland: A dreamland for honeymooners

Holland-Dream for Honeymooners
Holland has emerged as Honeymooners dream

Dreaming of a honeymoon far away in the lap of nature surrounded by historical mystique? If yes, Go Dutch! No, not in the commonly known literal sense, but in an intimately romantic way. Indeed, we are talking of Holland.

Known for being a favoured honeymoon destination in Europe, Holland offers honeymooners a whirlwind adventure around the country.

Amsterdam, the world-famous 17th century capital of Holland, sees a huge tourist influx throughout the year.

Top Places to visit:

1 Keukenhof: Step into the land of tulips and flowers

Hand in hand with your spouse, step inside the most beautiful spring garden in the world – Keukenhof – that marked its 70th anniversary in 2019. Also known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the largest and most beautiful spring garden in the world, casting a magical spell on its visitors. Your love will grow more after witnessing the beauty and essence of gorgeous Dutch tulips among other flowers that grow in abundance there. Approximately seven million flower bulbs are planted annually in the garden.

2 The windmills and the beauty of Zaanse Schans

When exploring Holland, seeing a windmill up-close is a must! Holland was once home to thousands of windmills, some of which exist even today and are open to visitors. A number of them have also been converted into shops, museums and restaurants, making them a must-visit in Holland. What could be better than getting an authentic impression of life in Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries? Zaanse Schans gives you a glimpse of authentic houses, a tinware factory, a cheese and dairy factory, and other crafts that date back to the time.

3 Romantic canal cruises in Amsterdam

Canal cruises of Amsterdam are the best way to explore the city! Take a guided tour with your spouse by your side, as you witness unparalleled views of centuries-old architecture, canal houses and historical monuments. Romantic candlelight cruises, cheese and wine tours, and several tours held during the Amsterdam Light Festival in winter are perfect for couples. The Amsterdam Canal District is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

4 The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum that illustrates the art and history of Holland right from the Middle Ages to present times. World-famous highlights from the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt van Rijn’s “Night Watch” and Johannes Vermeer’s “The Milkmaid”, can be admired at The Rijksmuseum.

5 A’DAM Lookout

Want to add adventure to your honeymoon? Holland has a bagful of things for you. Visit A’DAM Lookout for best views of Amsterdam, the most populous city in the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Lookout is a place where couples can enjoy unequalled panoramic views of the city, a great meal, and an interactive exhibition, or can take a ride on Europe’s highest swing—Over the Edge.

6  Van Gogh Museum

Vincent van Gogh was a nineteenth-century Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. His work had a huge impact on twentieth-century art. He was little appreciated in his lifetime, selling just a single piece of work. Today, the Van Gogh museum draws some 1.5 million visitors each year. Nowhere but here will you be able to find so many of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings. The collection boasts over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 750 written documents. Together, they give visitors an insight into his life and work.

7. Romantic dining in Amsterdam

Calm your hunger pangs in true Amsterdam style! Winter in Amsterdam is the season for romance, with the intimacy of the city-centre and its lovely canals, shopping streets that are ornate with decorative lights and beautiful windows, and countless pubs and restaurants that are teeming with people.

‘Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan,’ the longest ever social campaign in the garb of adventure sports, launched

Ganga Amantran Abhiyan
Ganga Amantran Abhiyan covering five states launched

New Delhi: The longest ever social campaign in the form of an adventure sporting activity, ‘Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan’ encompassing five states has been launched to spread the message of River Rejuvenation and Water Conservation on a massive scale.

This is the first-ever effort by National Mission for Clean Ganga to raft across the entire stretch of the Ganga river, which was launched by Union Minister of Jal Shakti  Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 7th  October 2019 in New Delhi.

The ‘Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan’ is a pioneering and historic exploratory open-water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga River to be held between 10  October to 11 November 2019. Starting at Devprayag and culminating at Ganga Sagar, the expedition will cover the entire stretch of over 2500 kms of the Ganga River.

The expedition will encompass the five Ganga basin states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal with stops at Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Sonepur and Kolkata.

A nine-member team of swimmer and rafters from the three Services of the Indian Armed Forces, led by acclaimed international open-water swimmer Wing Commander Paramvir Singh. This nine-member team would be joined by 3 members from NDRF, 2 members each from WII and CSIR-IITR.

The team, during the expedition will take up public awareness campaign on the locations at which they will stop. They will organise mass cleaning drives, interact with students of the village/city and will further the message of river conservation.

The Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will lead from the front and will not only flag-off the expedition but also be a part of the expedition from Devprayag to Rishikesh.

The expedition will commence on 10th  October 2019, at Devprayag, where Bhagirathi and Alaknanda merge and the Ganga begins. The expedition will continue for 33 days, and culminate on 11th  November 2019 at Bakkhali Beach, Frazerganj covering a total distance of almost 2,500 kms.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion the Hon’ble Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that “During the last 5 years under the able leadership of the PM Narendra Modi, the government has carried out various initiatives in order to restore Ganga’s Aviralta and Nirmalta and it has started to show positive results but any such movement that needs sustainability cannot be achieved until and unless it becomes a public movement or Jan Andolan. In order to connect with the various stakeholders directly or indirectly connected to Ganga, this mega event is being organized.’’

Want to explore heritage in the Heart of India? Join MP City Walk Festival from Oct 12

City Walk Photo
All is set for an innovative MP City Walk from October 12

In a bid to give a boost to heritage tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, in association with INDIA CITY WALKS Delhi, is going to organise “City Walks” in 11 major destinations beginning 12th October 2019. The chosen cities are Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Panna, Vidisha, Khajuraho, Chanderi, Jabalpur, Burhanpur and Orcha where these City Walks will be held simultaneously at each destination on all weekends till 10th November 2019.

This will be the second edition of City Walks in the state and it is envisaged to celebrate rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh through theme based curated walks for tourists and local residents.

The event aims at counting approximately 100 walks for more than 2000 participants. The main focus of the event is to create awareness in the state around cultural, heritage, culinary, art, architecture, spiritual and eco-tourism destinations of Madhya Pradesh. The people of every age group, weather domestic or international tourists, are invited for these walks.

City walks will be based on various themes like heritage walk foot walk, textile walk, photography walk and spiritual walk. It will be led by a local walk leader, who will be selected as a Walk Leader by India City Walks for delivering highest quality of experience to participants.

Officials of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board said: “The initiative of organising the City Walks Festival in Madhya Pradesh is our commitment to promote tourism activities in the state, our inheritance is our history and is also a testimony of our culture and traditions. Join us in this great initiative and help us contribute towards the invaluable legacy of Madhya Pradesh by creating awareness and vivid experiences around them for local and global travellers”.

A calendar will be created for the festival and appropriate marketing would be done. The sign-up to conduct walks and participation will be done through online medium. The several contests such as best photography, best blog and best walk leaders will be held during the festival.

The “Walk Icons” will also be identified in the process and they will be the Brand Ambassadors for a destination, heritage, culture etc. Walk Icons will act as flag bearers of the City Walks Festival organized by India City Walks and enabled by City Explorers and India with Locals for MPTB.

 

Advisory on J&K bound tourists to be lifted from 10th October 2019

J&K tourism
Advisory on J&K bound tourists to be lifted from 10th October 2019

Srinagar: In news that can bing cheers to those waiting to explore Kashmir, the government has decided to lift the advisory that asked tourists to leave the Valley in the run-up to abolition of the special status granted to the state under Article 370. The advisory is being lifted with effect from October 10.

The decision came at a Situation cum Security Review Meeting chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik .on 7th October 2019.  Besides the Advisors and the Chief Secretary, the meeting was also attended by the Principal Secretaries of Planning and Housing & Urban Development Department.

For the past six weeks, all the security restrictions were removed in most parts of J&K and the Governor has been focussing on bringing life back to normal.

Some of the major decisions taken in the past in the Situation cum Security Review Meetings include reopening of Higher Secondary Schools; Colleges and Universities; restarting public transport; opening additional travel counters at TRC Srinagar; opening 25 internet kiosks in each district to facilitate the public and Government departments; monitoring attendance in Government offices, etc.

The Governor has been holding Situation cum Security Review Meetings on a daily basis for 2 hours generally from 6 to 8 pm each day since 5th August, 2019. Initially, the meetings focussed on reviewing the security scenario following the imposition of restrictions after constitutional changes that were made.

In October 7 meeting the Governor was briefed about the BDC elections. He was informed that there is active interest in the BDC elections and most of the seats of Chairpersons of BDCs would be filled. All AROs and AEROs have been provided mobile phone facility to ensure smooth conduct of elections. Nomination papers were accepted even on 7th October 2019.

The Governor was informed that as BDC elections were party based, the delegations of parties whose leaders are in jail are being allowed to meet party presidents once, so that they can take a decision on elections and authorise someone to approve candidates.

The Governor was also briefed about the progress in apple procurement which has crossed 850 tonnes and worth Rs. 3.25 crores. Some changes in the rates of apple are being made which will be announced shortly.

Ground situation in J&K continues to be normal barring few restrictions: CRPF

Jammu and Kashmir
MoS PMO Jitendra Singh along with Special DG Zulfiqar Hasan

New Delhi: The ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation continues to be normal with no incidence of violence and curfew, barring few restrictions, according to Special DG, North Zone, Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF), Zulfiqar Hasan.

The latest ground reality update on J&K post August 5 decision to repeal Article 370 came in a special meeting Hasan had with Union Minister of State (I/C) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here recently.

During the meeting, Hasan also presented a coffee table book on the successful Amarnath Yatra, to the Minister.

The Minister complimented the Paramilitary forces and Army for their contribution in the state for the last two decades. Dr Singh said 2019 has been the most peaceful festive season in the recent years. The Minister said that festivals such as Eid, Independence Day have been celebrated peacefully. The Minister appreciated the Paramilitary forced for their sacrifices in maintaining peace in the country.

This Dussehra will see two evils reduced to Ashes- The Ravana and The Plastic

Plastic waste Ravana
Cement Industry in collaboration with Ministry to dispose of Ravana, made up of Plastic waste

For ages, Dussehra epitomises Victory of Good over Evil. But this Dussehra is going to live up to that victorious spirit quite literally– against the demon of single-use plastic. In an innovative green initiative, the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will dispose of 25-30 ft effigies of Ravana, made out of plastic waste in an eco-friendly way across a few cities in India.

Ravana effigies will be disposed of mechanically in a representative cement plant at the Ramlila grounds. The plastic will be put in a cement kiln where the temperature will be so high that it does not impact the environment and its residue will not be left. As of now cement plants already burn plastic waste for energy.

The intent is to personify Ravana in its plastic form as a demon, bad for the society and environment. This initiative also highlights the role that the Cement Industry can play in, helping overcome this menace in its plants in an environmentally friendly manner.

Announcing the initiative at the CMA CONSERVE Conference recently, Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said “Single-use Plastics can be disposed in cement kilns and there will be no environmental issues as it uses high temperature where hazardous gases get absorbed. Very happy to hear about the plastic Ravana initiative on 8th October where CMA would showcase the process they are using to manage single-use plastic waste.”

The Cement Industry has collaborated with the Ministry on various initiatives under the Swachhata Hi Sewa. The first phase from September 11 to October 2, 2019, focused on awareness creation against Single-Use Plastic (SUP). During this period, CMA and the Cement Industry have undertaken extensive initiatives across 16 States, covering 377 Villages, and sensitising over 1 lakh people through training, mass awareness and waste Shramdaan activities.

In the next phase of SHS, the CMA Member Companies have extended solidarity to Swachhata hi Sewa by coming forward in a big way in working with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to coordinate a seamless network for the disposal of plastic waste in the Cement Plants across the Country. Both sides look forward to evaluating this experience to look at future possibilities for the disposal of plastic waste by the Cement Industry in an environmentally friendly manner.

73 per cent of millennials in 15 countries lament mental health trauma in war zones

icrc logo
International Committee of the Red Cross

Geneva: “War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity… .it destroys states, it destroys families,” so said, Martin Luther. But an international survey has recently added another dimension to this saying— the often neglected and generally invisible yet widespread mental health trauma of the war victims. 

An Ipsos survey commissioned by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says nearly three in four millennials 73 per cent survey across 15 countries point out that mental health needs are as important as water, food, and shelter for victims of wars and armed violence. 

The data, taken from the survey of more than 15,000 people aged 20 to 35, shows a growing awareness of the importance of mental health in conflict situations.

Of the 15 countries surveyed, the highest support for mental health among millennials came from Syria, where 87 per cent of roughly 1,000 respondents said mental health needs are as important as water, food and shelter for victims of armed conflicts. The next highest countries were Indonesia (82 per cent), Ukraine (81 per cent) and Switzerland (80 per cent).

“Mental health services have for too long been an after-thought in conflict settings. When traumas are invisible, they can be easily overlooked or deprioritized. Yet war has a devastating impact on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of millions. New mental health problems can appear, and pre-existing conditions may resurface. For some the effects will be life-threatening,” said ICRC President Peter Maurer.

More than one out of five people in conflict-affected areas live with some form of mental health condition, from mild depression and anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder. That is three times more than the general population worldwide suffering from these conditions. The mental health and psychosocial needs of people caught up in conflict must be a part of the growing attention given to mental health around the world.

“Supporting people’s mental health can be lifesaving in times of war and violence, just as much as stemming a bleeding wound or having clean water. Hidden wounds are no less dangerous,” said Mr. Maurer.

This week, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, the ICRC is calling on all States to prioritize mental health and psychosocial support in situations of violence and armed conflict, as critical to the first wave of humanitarian assistance, and as an integral component in domestic and international emergency response systems

Struggling with oral health issues? Log on to first of its kind e-DantSeva for help

HEALTH ORAL
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launching two oral health initiatives.

New Delhi: In a first in India, the Government has launched maiden one of its kind national digital platform on oral health information and knowledge dissemination, e-DantSeva, which will reach out to more than one billion people with one click on a dedicated website and mobile application. Not leaving behind the visually impaired, a Braille booklet and Voice over on Oral Health Education has also been released.

“Dental caries/cavities and periodontal disease remain the two most prevalent dental diseases of the Indian population and dental infections have a potential for serious diseases/infections,” said Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan while launching the two oral health initiatives.

He further added that oral health is indispensable for the wellbeing and good quality of life. “Poor oral health affects growth negatively in all aspects of human development,” he said. 

This initiative of the Ministry with AIIMS and other stakeholders aims to sensitize the public about the significance of maintaining optimum oral health and equips them with the tools and knowledge to do so, including awareness on the nearest oral health service facility. The website and mobile application provide oral health information gathered from authentic scientific resources and connect the public to timely advice for managing any dental emergency or oral health problem.

e-DantSeva contains information about the National Oral Health Program, detailed list of all the dental facility and colleges, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material and a unique feature called the ‘Symptom Checker’, which provides information on symptoms of dental/oral health problems, ways to prevent these, the treatment modes, and also directs the user to find their nearest available dental facility (public and private sectors both).  The website also provides GPRS route/images/satellite images of the facility for easier access to the general population.

National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) in its current form was introduced in 2014. The Center for Dental Education and Research (CDER), AIIMS, New Delhi functions as the National Center of Excellence for Implementation of NOHP. The Centre has been instrumental in providing consultation and support for the research and other activities for the National Oral Health Program.

Also present at the function were Smt. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health) and Prof. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS New Delhi, Dr O P Kharbanda, Chief, Centre for Dental Education and Research, AIIMS, Dr Ashok Dhoble, Secretary, Indian Dental Association and students and faculty from Blind Relief Association (BRA) along with other senior officers from the Health Ministry and faculty of AIIMS.

 

CSE questions sustainability of India’s ‘Open Defecation Free’ feat

Open Defecation Free
4303 cities now declared Open Defecation Free

New Delhi: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has sought to punch holes in the sustainability aspect of the official claims and proclamations that India has become open defecation free (ODF) on October 2, 2019, saying the landmark feat may get reversed if a recent investigation by its Down to Earth magazine is to go by.

Is it a case of “professional pessimism?” No, the CSE disagrees, pointing out that even if toilets have been built and are being used, the trend can reverse. A case in point is Haryana, which had declared itself ODF in 2017. According to Down to Earth investigation people there are slipping back to the old habit of open defecation.

Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE says: “There is also the question of ‘safe’ disposal of the waste generated by these toilets.”

According to the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19, the nationwide survey undertaken by the government to establish SBM’s success, disposal is “safe” if the toilet is connected to a septic tank with a soak pit, single or double leach pit, or to a drain. “This is an inadequate and erroneous definition of ‘safe’,” said Narain. She also pointed out that these are only systems for containment of the excreta, not its disposal.

According to the Survey, roughly around 34 per cent of toilets are septic tanks with a soak pit; another 30 per cent are double leach pits, and another 20 per cent are single pits. NARSS assumes that these toilets will safely decompose the excreta in-situ.

This will completely depend on the quality of the construction of the toilets, CSE researchers said. “This is the crux of the problem. If the septic tanks or double leach pit toilets are constructed well, then the excreta will be safely decomposed and when removed, will be safe for reuse on land.”

The CSE’s ground surveys in peri-urban India have found that the quality of septic tanks is poor; waste is unsafely disposed of by tankers on the land and in open drains, or worse, in waterbodies.

“The question that we need to ask ourselves is will this lead to another, a far bigger challenge when the pits are emptied and not-yet-decomposed waste is dumped into water bodies or in the fields? The resultant soil and water contamination can be catastrophic for public health,” said Narain.

In the past four years, India has built 100 million toilets in about 0.6 million villages and another 6.3 million in its cities. By all accounts, it is an incredible feat. As per a 2019 report of the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for water supply and sanitation, of Unicef and the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2000 and 2014, open defecation decreased by some 3 percentage points a year while between 2015 and 2019 it reduced at over 12 percentage points a year.

According to the government estimates, by February 2019, over 93 per cent of the country’s rural households had access to toilets and over 96 per cent of them used the toilets, suggesting an important change in behaviour. Ninety-nine per cent of the toilets were found to be well maintained, hygienic and in 100 per cent of these toilets, excreta was “safely” disposed of.

At last, she said and asked, “However, the scale of this transition is so massive that it will mean new, bigger challenges. Will the extraordinary success of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) stand the test of time? How will the over 100 million toilets be maintained and kept functional? Will people continue to use them? Will the millions of tonnes of waste generated by these toilets be managed and disposed of efficiently, without polluting the environment? How will we make this success sustainable, make it last?”

 

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